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Elbaradei says Iran has right to peaceful nuclear technology

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 24, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear-IAEA
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohammad Elbaradei said here Monday that "no one doubts Iran's right to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes."
Speaking to the al-Arabia TV network, he added that Iran possess Russian-built facilities which are under construction for this purpose.

"If Iran can cooperate with the nuclear watchdog agency, we can also say in the future that its nuclear activities are peaceful." "Europe still wants discussions with Tehran and the latter also supports further talks," he added.

Also the two sides have common views on Iran's right to have peaceful nuclear technology and I hope that the discussions resume, the IAEA head stated.

The international community also believes that diplomacy is the priority in resolving Iran 's nuclear dossier, he underlined.

"I will do my best so that Iran's nuclear dossier will not be referred to the UN Security Council and be resolved through talks." He said he does not foresee punitive measures against Tehran if the file is sent to the UN Security Council.

"I don not believe in military action which will complicate matters further," Elbaradei added.

I think that if Iran crisis is intensified it will damage all involved and Russia and China are also in favor of cooperation between Tehran and he international community, Elbaradei added.

"I hope that the two sides will sit on the negotiations table and strive to remove the issue," he said.

Unfortunately the nuclear weapons have become a deterrent for international community. Big powers which have these armaments use them, he said.

It should be noted that atomic weapons are dangerous for all nations.

"I believe that if a crisis erupts then all sides will use the tools at their disposal."
He said he does not believe that the al-Qaeda organization which is a clever organization, possess nuclear weapons at this time.

"Although we should not rule out the possibility," he added.

Representatives of five big nuclear states namely the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China along with that of Germany in a meeting in London recently decided to hold an emergency session of the Governing Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Feb 2-3.

Iran regards holding an emergency session by the Governing Board of the UN nuclear watchdog on Tehran's nuclear case as "unnecessary and a political move".

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi made the remark while talking to domestic and foreign reporters at his weekly press conference.

Referring to the recent remarks by the IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei who said the agency would present its report in March, Asefi said, "ElBaradei's remarks showed he also believes the meeting should be held in March.

"It also indicated that the IAEA should carry out its work and have the chance to present its report."
The spokesman said, "In case this emergency session is held, it will indicate it has political and non-technical objectives." Stressing that the IAEA should carry out its technical and professional activities, he said, "When the emergency session is held under the pressure of certain countries, it is clear that the result will be political, nontechnical and unprofessional and is devoid of expertised features."
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